A method and related apparatus are provided for restoring a connection through a provider network (PN). In particular, a connection is established along a path (P1) through the provider network (PN) for the transport of client traffic between two client network nodes (CR1, CR2) of a client network (CD1, CD2). Any restoration service for this connection is deactivated. However, when a failure (F1) is detected along the path (P1) which affects the connection, a path search is performed anyhow to determine a projected restoration path (P2) through the provider network (PN) available to restore said failed connection. In the case that the path search was successful and a projected restoration path (P2) was found, the availability of the projected restoration path (P2) is communicated (MS1, MS2) to the client network (CD1, CD2). The client can now decide whether to accept a temporary service upgrade to restoration service or not. Only after receipt of a confirmation (CM1, CM2) from said client network (CD1, CD2), a path restoration is performed to restore the failed connection over the projected restoration path (P2).

First claim

1. A method of restoring a connection through a provider network comprising:
providing a connection along a path through the provider network between two provider edge nodes for the transport of client traffic between two client network nodes of a client network, wherein said connection is terminated at network side interfaces of said provider edge nodes, wherein the client traffic is received at customer side interfaces of said provider edge nodes, wherein in said provider edge nodes, switched interconnections between the respective customer side interfaces and network side interfaces are configured, and wherein a restoration service for said connection is deactivated;
detecting, before any action is taken regarding a restoration path, a failure along said path affecting said connection and receiving a failure notification at at least one of said network side interfaces of said provider edge nodes;
upon receipt of said failure notification, performing a path search to determine the projected restoration path through said provider network available to restore said failed connection;
if a projected restoration path could be found through said path search, communicating the availability of said restoration path over at least one of said customer side interfaces to said client network; and
upon receipt of a confirmation at one of said customer side interfaces from said client network, performing a path restoration to restore said failed connection over said projected restoration path.